Every DCEU Movie Ranked from Worst to Best

From Krypton’s last son to Atlantean royalty and everything in between, the DC Extended Universe stitched together interconnected stories across multiple heroes, crossovers, and spin-offs. Below is a countdown through every DCEU film from the franchise’s launch to its finale, with quick-hit details on plot focus, principal cast, creators behind the camera, and other essentials fans like to know.

15. ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ (2023)

Arthur Curry balances life as king and new father while facing a resurgent Black Manta empowered by ancient Atlantean technology. Jason Momoa returns alongside Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Amber Heard. James Wan directs, expanding the oceanic world with new realms and creatures. The story leans into a reluctant-brothers dynamic as Orm and Arthur confront a threat tied to a long-buried kingdom.

14. ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ (2020)

Diana Prince operates in the Cold War era, clashing with Maxwell Lord and Cheetah after a mysterious artifact grants dangerous wishes. Gal Gadot leads with Kristen Wiig, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Pine. Patty Jenkins directs, building on Amazon lore and the consequences of desire-driven power. The film explores how truth and sacrifice intersect when miracles come with hidden costs.

13. ‘Suicide Squad’ (2016)

A covert government program sends incarcerated supervillains on expendable missions to reduce their sentences. Will Smith’s Deadshot and Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn headline a roster including Joker’s disruptive presence. David Ayer directs, introducing Task Force X and the explosive contingencies controlling them. The operation targets a supernatural crisis while tracking how shaky alliances form under pressure.

12. ‘Justice League’ (2017)

Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince recruit metahumans to stop Steppenwolf’s hunt for the Mother Boxes after a world-shaking loss. Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, and Ray Fisher assemble the core team with Henry Cavill’s Superman pivotal to the outcome. The production blends contributions from Zack Snyder and Joss Whedon. The plot centers on uniting disparate heroes, reviving hope, and defending Earth from an ancient conqueror.

11. ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ (2023)

Teen hero Billy Batson and his foster siblings face the Daughters of Atlas, who seek to reclaim godly power. Zachary Levi and Asher Angel continue the dual lead, joined by Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu, and Rachel Zegler. David F. Sandberg returns to direct, expanding the magical mythology and the Rock of Eternity’s secrets. The story highlights the team’s growing pains as family bonds are tested by divine adversaries.

10. ‘Black Adam’ (2022)

An ancient champion awakens in Kahndaq and clashes with modern superheroes over methods and justice. Dwayne Johnson stars with Aldis Hodge as Hawkman, Pierce Brosnan as Doctor Fate, and Quintessa Swindell as Cyclone. Jaume Collet-Serra directs, introducing the Justice Society’s legacy and advanced Amon Dagger lore. The narrative examines protector versus conqueror roles while setting the stage for power balances beyond one nation.

9. ‘The Flash’ (2023)

Barry Allen alters the timeline to save his mother, triggering a reality with no metahumans and a different Dark Knight. Ezra Miller leads, with Michael Keaton’s Batman and Sasha Calle’s Supergirl playing crucial roles. Andy Muschietti directs, weaving multiverse rules, time echoes, and paradoxes into the story. The film explores consequences of grief-driven choices and how heroes confront fixed points in history.

8. ‘Blue Beetle’ (2023)

College grad Jaime Reyes bonds with an alien Scarab that chooses him as its symbiotic host. Xolo Maridueña headlines with Bruna Marquezine, Adriana Barraza, and Susan Sarandon. Ángel Manuel Soto directs, centering family dynamics and Palmera City’s corporate tech intrigue. The Scarab’s sentience, armored constructs, and memory threads drive both action and Jaime’s path to responsibility.

7. ‘Birds of Prey’ (2020)

After a breakup, Harley Quinn gets caught between a young pickpocket and Gotham crime boss Roman Sionis. Margot Robbie stars with Jurnee Smollett’s Black Canary, Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s Huntress, and Ewan McGregor’s villain. Cathy Yan directs, focusing on a street-level team-up forged by necessity. The plot pivots on a stolen diamond, a ruthless club owner, and women forming their own crew to survive.

6. ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’ (2016)

A catastrophic battle’s aftermath drives Bruce Wayne to view Superman as a global risk, while Lex Luthor manipulates events toward conflict. Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill headline with Gal Gadot’s first appearance as Wonder Woman. Zack Snyder directs, introducing the trinity dynamic and metahuman teases for future heroes. The story culminates in a larger threat that forces rivals to coordinate against an engineered monster.

5. ‘Aquaman’ (2018)

Arthur Curry must claim the throne of Atlantis to stop a war with the surface world orchestrated by Orm. Jason Momoa leads with Amber Heard, Patrick Wilson, and Willem Dafoe. James Wan directs, showcasing undersea kingdoms, relic trials, and the Trident of Atlan. The journey spans from lighthouse roots to a gladiatorial challenge and a massive oceanic showdown.

4. ‘Man of Steel’ (2013)

Kal-El’s escape from Krypton leads to a search for identity on Earth as General Zod arrives demanding allegiance. Henry Cavill stars with Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, and Russell Crowe. Zack Snyder directs, blending first-contact tension with Kryptonian history and advanced biotech. The narrative tracks Clark’s moral framework forming under human parents while confronting a militarized past.

3. ‘Shazam!’ (2019)

A foster teen gains the powers of ancient champions and learns to share them with his new family. Zachary Levi and Asher Angel co-lead, with Jack Dylan Grazer and Mark Strong. David F. Sandberg directs, balancing classroom life, superhero tests, and the Seven Deadly Sins. The film’s heart centers on chosen family, secret lairs, and the responsibility that comes with wish-fulfillment power.

2. ‘The Suicide Squad’ (2021)

Task Force X infiltrates the island nation of Corto Maltese to eliminate a decades-old experiment. Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Daniela Melchior, and Joel Kinnaman lead an ensemble of expendable operatives. James Gunn writes and directs, mixing black-ops chaos with a towering alien starfish and morally murky objectives. The mission turns on shifting loyalties, classified projects, and the price of keeping secrets.

1. ‘Wonder Woman’ (2017)

Diana leaves Themyscira with pilot Steve Trevor to stop a devastating war driven by a hidden manipulator. Gal Gadot stars with Chris Pine, Robin Wright, and Connie Nielsen. Patty Jenkins directs, linking Amazon training, a mythical lasso, and trench-front action. The story follows a warrior’s first steps into the world of men, guided by compassion and a belief in restoring peace.

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